JAPN 111Y Intensive Introductory Modern Japanese

Credit: 0.75

JAPN 111Y-112Y is a yearlong course that constitutes the first two sequences of the five-semester Japanese program. JAPN 111Y is offered in the fall. This course introduces basic Modern Standard Japanese and provides students with language skills through intensive practice and with knowledge of various aspects of the Japanese culture. Students also will learn three types of Japanese orthography: hiragana, katakana and approximately 250 kanji. Class meetings range from nine hours per week in the first semester to eight hours per week in the second, with a 50-minute evening session each day of class. Offered every year.

JAPN 112Y Intensive Introductory Modern Japanese

Credit: 0.75

This course is the second half of JAPN 111Y-112Y. JAPN 112Y is offered in the spring. See description for JAPN 111Y. Offered every year.

JAPN 213Y Intermediate Modern Japanese

Credit: 0.5

JAPN 213Y-214Y is a yearlong course that constitutes the third and fourth sequences of the five-semester Japanese program. By the end of the course, students will have learned all the basic grammar of Modern Standard Japanese and the cumulative total of 500 kanji. Coursework involves extensive assignments for speaking, listening, writing, and reading, which will include materials about Japanese culture written in Japanese. Prerequisite: JAPN 111Y-112Y or equivalent. Offered every year.

JAPN 214Y Intermediate Modern Japanese

Credit: 0.5

This course is the second half of JAPN 213Y-214Y. See description for JAPN 213Y. Offered every year.

JAPN 321 Advanced Japanese

Credit: 0.5

This is the final sequence of the five-semester Japanese program. By the end of the course, students will learn 250 new kanji, for a cumulative total of 750 kanji. Authentic Japanese materials online will be extensively employed to study traditional and modern cultures in Japan. This course is conducted in Japanese. Prerequisite: JAPN 213Y-214Y or equivalent or permission of instructor. Offered every year.

JAPN 322 Advanced Japanese: Language and Culture

Credit: 0.5

This course introduces concepts essential for understanding contemporary Japanese culture and society. Students will study key words in the relevant context through extensive reading and in-class discussion. They also will have ample opportunities to utilize the learned concepts through speaking and writing practice to be assigned on a weekly basis. The course will be taught in Japanese. Prerequisite: JAPN 321 or permission of instructor.

JAPN 323 Advanced Reading and Composition

Credit: 0.5

The two main goals of this course are to help students gain skills in (1)research and presentation in Japanese, and (2)utilizing Japanese resources online. Outside of the classroom students will independently research their own topics of interest mainly online. In class they will evaluate the information with regard to reliability and accuracy, summarize the relevant points, and then present them verbally and in writing. As a final project, students will write a research paper in Japanese on a contemporary topic. Prerequisite: JAPN 322 or permission of instructor. Offered every other year.

JAPN 325 Japanese Linguistics

Credit: 0.5

This course surveys the characteristics of the Japanese language. Students will first review formal aspects of the language, including sound patterns, word formation rules, and sentence patterns, in order to understand how they are combined to generate meaning in Japanese. Students will next examine actual uses of the language as influenced by cultural concepts and social contexts. The course is taught in English. Prerequisite: JAPN 111Y-112Y or permission of instructor. Normally offered every third year.